Diane Rankin
Diane Rankin leads an active lifestyle. She works full time, shuttles her two teenage sons between sports, supports local food drives, and hikes in the Rocky Mountains. Despite being on the go, Diane finds time for her passion: supporting women and men who are living with von Willebrand disease or VWD.
VWD is the most common — yet least diagnosed — bleeding disorder, affecting about 1 percent of all people. The disorder is caused by a defect or deficiency of a blood protein called von Willebrand factor (VWF).
When Diane was 4 years old, she had a nose bleed that was so extreme she needed a blood transfusion. Despite experiencing several of the 5 Signs & Symptoms of VWD, Diane wasn't diagnosed with the disorder until several years later.
"Because the condition is hereditary, my entire family was tested," Diane said. "My grandfather, father and three brothers were also diagnosed with VWD, but I was the only female in the family with the disorder and had to learn to cope with it on my own." Throughout her teenage years and into adulthood, Diane received regular treatments but continued to experience frequent nosebleeds, easy bruising and heavy, prolonged menstruation (or menorrhagia) that could last for weeks at a time.
"It was simply horrible going to school," Diane said. "I was frequently visiting the nurse's station and I missed several memorable events like dances and homecoming because my nose would bleed uncontrollably when I was excited or nervous." At the age of 40, Diane's insurance required her to drop the hematologist who treated her for 16 years and seek care in the Denver area (more than 60 miles away from her home) until a new local medical facility was built. Little did Diane know that this change would have a profound effect on her treatment plan. She was referred to a Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) where her new hematologist prescribed Humate-P® (Antihemophilic Factor/von Willebrand Factor Complex) from CSL Behring.
Since she began using Humate-P, Diane says she's been able to manage her condition with confidence. "It was a long journey to find the right treatment," Diane said. "Throughout my life I didn't have any female mentors that went through the same experiences, but I learned to be a survivor in many ways. By telling my story I want both women and men with VWD to feel empowered, know their voice is important, and mentor others to be self-advocates for the next generation." To fulfill her passion for helping others with VWD, Diane has been active in the National Hemophilia Foundation's Project Red Flag campaign and serves as a member of the VWD Consumer Advisory Board for CSL Behring.
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